39. The Fierce Battle and the Woman in the Robe
Hekatonkheires wrapped in an aura surpassing even the Goblin King, its sculpted musculature gleaming menacingly. Bloodshot eyes glared at us from the gaps in its iron mask. It stepped forward in a sumo stomping gait, the ground shuddering with a heavy thud.
"Watch out! There's one behind us too!"
We were sandwiched between the Hekatonkheires.
"One was already a nightmare. Beers died fighting it. There's no way we beat two!"
Cecily was starting to panic.
"Cecily, it's fine. I'm the guy who beat you all. Still just F-rank, though."
"Eh? You're still F-rank?" Myra asked.
"Yeah. You're in an F-rank party too, Myra. Kinda embarrassing, right?"
I'd just been ignoring the promotion system since I had no clue how it worked, but I said it like I was bragging. I'd beaten a B-rank, so shouldn't I be B-rank by now?
"You're getting off-topic. We're in the middle of a fight!"
Cecily snapped back to her senses.
"Alright, I'll summon Rakushel."
"No, you can't!"
Mizuki stopped me.
"Why not?"
"In Greek myth, Hekatonkheires are sons of Uranus and Gaia—three brothers."
So these guys were treated as monsters here. And a third might show up?
"For now, shouldn't we just take out these two?"
"The third might not be the same strength. Plus, we can't fight while protecting the downed ones."
She had a point. It limited our options.
"...Got it. Mizuki, you take the front one. Fam and I got the rear. Cecily, hit 'em with magic. Myra, support us—prioritize Mizuki. Ira, guard Cecily and Myra!"
"Got it!"
"Got it!"
"Got it!"
"Got it!"
"Got it!"
Sorry for leaving you alone, Mizuki. But you're the only one I can count on.
Fam and I charged. A soft light enveloped us for an instant—Myra's protective blessing. Then another glow layered on: Cecily's attack boost magic.
The Hekatonkheires swung its massive sword. I backstepped; Fam leaped aside. The wind from the slash nearly knocked me off balance.
Fam pressed her sword attack mid-leap, but it punched her strike aside with each fist.
Fam went flying.
"Fam!"
As I turned, the greatsword came crashing down. I barely dodged, only for a horizontal sweep to follow. I parried with my blade's flat. The impact numbed my arms, nearly dropping my knife. Then a diagonal slash.
My feet tangled; I fell. A spear hurl came next.
Couldn't dodge it. That's when Fam's Chrysanthemum Ichimonji skill knocked the spear away. A massive fireball then engulfed the Hekatonkheires—Cecily's magic.
"Fam, you okay?"
"Yes, Myra's protection held. Master, get up."
"Right..."
I stood, realizing I'd dropped my knife and scrambling to grab it.
Focus was already slipping.
Those countless arms were the real problem. It didn't budge an inch, assaulting us with weapons from every direction. One swing could kill.
The fireball's flames were fading, but no clue if it did damage. We had to follow up. Fam and I split left and right, slashing in.
"Groooaaarrr!"
The Hekatonkheires roared and leaped, vaulting over us toward Cecily's group, nagamaki raised high.
Ira threw up a barrier.
The monster's blow boomed like thunder. An explosion of wind blasted out.
Fam and I rushed over to find Cecily and Ira down.
Myra faced the beast alone, blood streaming from her head. She'd taken damage from that hit too.
"Myra, you good? Cecily and Ira?"
"I'm fine. They... can't fight."
"Damn it! Covering you!"
I fired a stone orb to distract. It swatted it away easily, but that bought Myra time.
She swung her mace. It tried to block with a sword, but her strike was sharper—shattering its arm.
She followed with two more swings on the unbalanced monster.
Using centrifugal force masterfully on that heavy mace. No wasted motion, perfectly stable. She's strong.
I lobbed another stone orb for support.
It didn't dodge. Hit landed, but no visible damage. A spear flew at me in retaliation. Barely evaded.
Myra's combo halted. Fam slashed in instead—light cut, but it marked.
The Hekatonkheires counterattacked, swinging its greatsword wildly.
Fam fell back to create distance, leaving Myra to tank it all. She didn't flee to protect the fallen. She parried the first two, but her defense slowed—damage creeping in. Fam took a spear toss, unable to help.
I fired another stone orb. Still no dodge.
One more, arcing the trajectory to mess with its aim prediction.
It clanged into the iron mask's eye slit.
The attacks stopped. It fumbled to dislodge the stone.
"Now!"
Myra and Fam resumed their assault.
It flailed with remaining arms and swords, but sloppy—missing wildly.
I drew my knife to join. All-in on one strike. Sever that neck. Over three meters tall; I'd need deeper penetration past the arms.
But I believed this blade would take its head.
Eye contact with Fam—she got it. We crept in during Myra's openings.
The Hekatonkheires gave up on the stone, ripping off the mask.
I lunged into its guard, swinging hard and fast.
Not straight to the neck—one arm severed first—but the blade bit into the throat. Stopped at a fifth depth.
Knife stuck. Couldn't move. Should've let go, but panic gripped me.
Its fist connected. Brutal impact slammed me into the ground. Every inch screamed. Body wouldn't respond. Defense magic must've softened it. Consciousness fading. No. Stay awake. Third one might come.
Blood gushed from its neck, but it stood.
Fam yanked my knife free from its body.
She faced it in my exact stance—pure, unburdened beauty. No tension in her left foot. The flaw from my all-in eagerness, corrected.
It thrashed all arms to keep distance, but slower now.
She slipped the gap flawlessly, no hesitation. Her blade arced gracefully, splitting its forehead. She rebounded off its body, retreating safely. My ideal strike.
The monster swayed. But didn't fall.
"Move! Pissing me off—time to roast you!"
Cecily was up, unleashing another massive fireball.
The Hekatonkheires became a bonfire and collapsed.
Myra smashed its head repeatedly with her mace.
The monster vanished. Cecily passed out again.
"What about Mizuki..."
She battled the front one.
Her shield was shattered, arm limp.
Countless scars marked her body. Yet she stood.
Soft light bathed her; wounds knit—Myra's healing blessing.
She glanced back, confirming we were safe.
Cecily collapsed after her fireball; three sprawled sloppily on the floor. But we're good—Fam guarded them. Another leap, and they'd be dead.
Myra headed to reinforce.
"I'm fine. Heal everyone else first."
Mizuki stopped her. Blue light gleamed in her eyes—proof her passive Super Skill activated.
She advanced. It retreated. Her pressure overwhelmed it, sensing her Super Kill potential. Several arms severed. It attacked while backing, but she evaded effortlessly with swordwork alone.
Its blows were lethal intent. Super Save blocked them all, expanding to cover regular hits too. Super Kill probability boosted as well.
She pressed. No retreat possible.
Its back hit the door.
Her sword plunged deep.
The Hekatonkheires vanished.
Door didn't open. Space warped instead—back to the original hall.
"Hey, why're you lying there?"
Mizuki smirked down mischievously. Body ached too much to rise. Myra treated Ira and Cecily—Ira worst off. My turn next.
Mizuki bore plenty of fresh wounds herself. Hell of a win.
"Waiting for your feared third one, but it was too weak—got bored. This angle gives a great panty view."
No third Hekatonkheires appeared.
"...Should I step on you?"
She prodded my head with her toes.
"Quit it—that teasing glimpse has charm. Exhibitionist."
Lie. I'd stare forever.
"Muu! Wanna kick this perv!"
Mizuki fumed.
"Mizuki..."
"What?"
"We're good. The two of us can make it here. Right?"
"...Yeah."
She nodded, crouching to stroke my forehead. I scanned for Fam.
Fam stood rigidly, watching us.
"Fam, help me up."
"..."
She stared blankly. Unreadable—unsettling.
"Fam?"
"Ah, Master, sorry. Spaced out after the fight."
She helped me up.
"Master, two reports."
"Hope it's good news."
Her face seemed tense. Wanted her smile.
"Several blacked-out entries in the Special Skill catalog."
"Really?"
"Some poorly censored—readable. Goddess Summon is one."
Huge info. Someone took it, blocking others. Mizuki listened silently.
"Another: Monster Collection." "Yeah, skip the nickname."
I cut her off. Sounds like a Paris fashion show. Not a knockoff—this world's original.
"Summons defeated foes to fight."
If they used it for Hekatonkheires, they'd cleared 40+ floors minimum.
I got Fam's implication. Not conclusive.
"Also... smell of grilled corn."
"Nearby?"
"No one where it lingered strongest."
Eye contact with Mizuki. Confirmed. Why sic monsters? To kill? Maybe they scouted, left when I didn't summon the goddess.
"Why fight between transfers?"
Aidan warned us, but Mizuki and I had no beef. Underestimated.
"Proxy war for the five goddesses vs. the other gods?" Mizuki said.
"Told to beat the Demon King, now this crap. If he's the apocalypse god, we're screwed."
Most gods against us.
"Dragged Cecily and Ira in. Regret it. Tell 'em everything. If they want, free 'em from slavery, ask Myra for church protection."
"Too late now—they'd be a loss as allies and firepower."
Mizuki nodded.
"Fam, cool with that?"
She nodded.
"No idea their game with the Hekatonkheires. See the black panther or robed woman, I unleash Goddess Summon. Gods' enemies either way. Banish 'em from this world."
"I'll kill the black panther woman. Order it."
"Hate orders. But please. And... life..."
Trailed off. Myra's room spat came back. Not now. But when?
"Master, finish."
"Spare her life if possible. A request."
"...Yes."
Fam nodded.
"Mizuki."
Fam called suddenly.
"Hm? What?" Mizuki blinked.
"Doing something unfair now."
She tightened her hug.
"Love you, Master." Fam said.
"Love you too."
I touched her arm. She eyed Mizuki.
"W-what? I... like Mash too!" Mizuki flushed, looking away.
"Me too, Mizuki."
I replied.
"Mmmph! Ignoring me again! Play with me too!"
Myra pouted post-treatment.
Behind her, Cecily and Ira watched us coolly.
After healing, I told Cecily and Ira about the transfers, the black panther beastkin woman and robed woman. Asked their plans.
"...Kinda figured. Explains your cluelessness, Mash. I'm going to Migurutto. Church protection kills freedom. Stuck on this sinking ship now."
Cecily answered.
"Me too, to Migurutto."
Ira agreed.
We returned to the 12th-floor entrance, then dungeon exit.
Inquiries revealed the four-party—Black Sky—had already left.
Fam and I tracked witnesses; they'd exited south gate post-city.
Regrouped with Mizuki's group. They'd grilled the guards.
"Party: Black Sky. Black panther: Riley, warrior, 20. Robed: Emma, tamer, 18. Priest guy: Noah, 31. Warrior guy: Freddy, 35. No levels recorded, but Emma's low. Some adventurer they bribed to escort to 12th."
"Emma's a transfer. But face unknown." Robe off, no features.
"Hunt Riley."
Yeah, only she stuck out. Forgot the priest and warrior already.
Names alone changed nothing.
South gate meant caravan route—might cross paths.
"Could drag in merchants."
"They wanted goddess luck. Gotta risk it."
Cecily said.
Next time, no probing—go for the kill.
Had to steel ourselves.